Heart disease
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Unit 610
April 2024
The purpose of this unit is to educate the GP on a variety of cardiac presentations that general practitioners often see, with a focus on early identification and management. As general practitioners, we have many opportunities to intervene early, and early intervention is so often critical in reducing morbidity and saving lives.What we do matters
Cardiovascular disease is still one of the most prevalent diseases in Australia and is responsible for 26% of all deaths in Australia, despite the positive impact of research into risk factors, medications and interventions.
The ongoing need to keep up to date with current cardiovascular disease patterns and management can be challenging, whether this be prevention, management or treatment. General practitioners need, and have, an amazing breadth of knowledge.
At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:
Your practice has decided to focus on heart disease prevention over the next six months. Eligible patients are contacted via text message to make an appointment with their general practitioner to have their cardiovascular disease risk assessed via a heart health assessment (Medicare Benefits Schedule items 699 and 177).
Sara, aged 48 years, initially presented to her general practitioner eight years ago for a health check. At that time she was feeling well and was interested in understanding her risk for heart disease. Her general practitioner performed a risk assessment using the Australian absolute cardiovascular disease risk calculator (available in 2015), which incorporated age, sex, cholesterol (total and high-density lipoprotein), systolic blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy and diabetes history.
Greg, aged 70 years, attends your clinic following a recent discharge from hospital with his first episode of pulmonary oedema. You have not yet received the discharge summary from the hospital. Five years earlier he had a percutaneous coronary intervention with two stents, following an acute myocardial infarction. He has a medical history of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He does not smoke and consumes two beers a week. He lives at home with his wife.
Juanita, aged 66 years, is a regular patient under your care. She is seeing you today for a routine blood pressure check and a repeat prescription for her regular medication.
Jeffrey, an accountant aged 78 years, still works two days per week and does the books for the local bowls club. He has been fit and healthy most of his life and he sees you for treated hypertension. His daughter is a general practitioner and since he has felt well and his blood pressure has been ’well controlled,’ he gets his repeat prescriptions from her. He has not visited your practice for the last two years.
To enroll in this check unit online:
Please note: If you're not a member of the RACGP or don't have a check subscription, click here.
Each unit of check comprises approximately five clinical cases, and the choice of cases will cover the broad spectrum of the unit’s topic. Each unit will be led by a GP with an interest and capability in the topic, and they will scope the five different cases for that unit in collaboration with the check team.